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Maximum Joy With a Mini Countryman
The Mini Countryman offers an interesting twist on the petite SUV framework.
The not-so-small and all-new Mini Countryman.
Think “Mini” and words such as little, petite, and diminutive come to mind. That’s suitable as the two-door Mini Cooper Hardtop measures just 151.1 inches long.
But Mini is more than just one model, with both the Countryman and the Clubman measuring one-and-a-half feet longer than the smallest model. So, “mini” here is in fact “midi” or perhaps “compact” would be the adequate nomenclature.
No matter, Mini is a brand and the Countryman and Clubman give Cooper hardtop or convertible owners a reason to dangle around instead of fleeing to the competition or, gasp!, moving up to BMW whose parent (BMW Group) wields both brands.
The two thousand seventeen Mini Countryman is a fresh model, then again it isn’t. The original, known as the Austin Mini Countryman, was a 1960s-era conveyance. It was a two-door wagon-like model also marketed as the Morris Mini Traveller.
In 2010, an all-new Mini Countryman flipped out and had a seven-year model run. But the US market never had it.
As for the second-generation Countryman, Mini had the US market in its viewfinder when designing it. Longer and broader than the previous model, the two thousand seventeen Countryman made its global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Showcase in November 2016, going on sale stateside a few months later.
2017 Mini Cooper Countryman
Spreading and widening the second-generation Countryman may seem like an odd direction to take, but in this case “necessity is the mother of invention,” a step required to reach North American consumers who find nothing nice about having one’s knees locked in place while railing in the rear seat. Thus, the extra eight inches inbetween axles and a track widened by Trio.7 inches means there is ample room for four, even five in a pinch.
In all, there are six Countryman models to consider. Because we’re on the cusp of a fresh model year, two thousand eighteen prices prevail here. Add $850 for the unavoidable destination and treating charge.
The product line starts out with the standard Countryman ($26,600), followed by the Countryman ALL4 ($28,600). Succeeding models include the S Countryman ($31,200) and S Countryman 4ALL ($31,700), with the John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 capping the product line at $37,800.
That’s five models and I mentioned six. Ah, yes, Mini now has a plug-in version, officially known as the Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. That’s a long name for a PHEV, a model with a base price of $36,800 and introduced for the two thousand eighteen model year. Owners may be eligible for up to $Four,000 in federal tax credits as well as state and local incentives, where available.
Under the Bondage mask
All “S” models have a Two.0-liter, TwinPower twin-scroll four-cylinder engine. Generating one hundred eighty nine horsepower and two hundred seven pound-feet of torque, that’s the same engine powering the heralded BMW three Series. Furthermore, it has a slight power edge over the bimmer, which supplies one hundred eighty horsepower and two hundred pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox comes standard; an 8-speed automatic transmission is also available.
The standard driver is a 1.5-liter, turbocharged three-cylinder engine with an output of one hundred thirty four horsepower and one hundred sixty two pound-feet of torque. The same transmission choices found in the “S” are available here.
Oddly, the PHEV model with both the “S” and “E” designations has the three-cylinder engine. That said, it offers the best spectacle — two hundred twenty one combined system horsepower and two hundred eighty four pound-feet of torque. There, you’ll find a six-speed automatic transmission along with all-wheel drive.
A Matter of Style
The Mini Countryman gets its larger size from a modular or transposable platform. This means it can support a diversity of vehicles based on its front-wheel drive platform with available all-wheel drive. Models such as the Chinese-only BMW one Series, broader market two Series SUVs, and the global BMW X1 share this particular platform, reducing costs, while permitting BMW to bring forward extra models. Notably, the Countryman rails on a platform that isn’t collective with the smallest Minis.
What’s collective amongst all Mini models is a common canvas or design style. Oval headlights and fog lamps, and a rounded top grille dress the front fascia. Other signature elements include its compressed profile marked by rock-hard shoulders, contrasting wheel wells, available alloy wheels, and a rear haunch. From the rear are vertical combination lamps and rear fog lights. Smoked out roof piles and dual harass tips are other features of note.
Standard equipment includes 15-inch Silver Heli spoke wheels set within all-season tires. Optional wheel designs are many and cover the 16-, 17-, and 18-inch range. All models come with heated side mirrors with washers. Design upgrades bring in a panoramic sunroof ($100), fetish mask stripes, roof rails, spoiler, and chrome line trim.
Inwards, you’ll find a cabin with a premium look and feel. My S ALL4 Countryman model came lavishly appointed and seemed as if BMW designers were set liberate on the interior. Standard imitation leather seats give way to cloth, leather/cloth, and leather seats elsewhere. Behind the front bucket seats is a 40:20:40 bench seat. Permit me to say this: the deep cut outs in the back of the front seats make the rear seat fairly bearable for two. What about a third individual? In a pinch one will fit. But why bother?
My loaner had both the leather seats and something I value immensely — front seat extenders. Yes, both the driver and the front passenger can have them — for anyone who spends long times behind the wheel, the extra hip support suggested is terrific as it also eases stress on the lower spine.
As for the rest of the cabin, you’ll find a “well rounded” look across. And I don’t just mean quality, but style as in the instrument panel, center console display, dials, knobs, vents, and door treats. It is a theme common to Mini and amplified inwards the Countryman.
Standard interior equipment runs the gamut from keyless entry and push-button begin to utter power accessories. You’ll also find sliding and reclining rear seats, backrests, and heated seats in all-wheel drive models.
Package options include Premium — power front seats, upgraded audio system, power tailgate, and privacy glass ($Two,000), Convenience — alarm system, folding cargo floor, folding rear center armrest with cup holders, a fold-out picnic cushion or space save tired, and extra 12-volt outlets ($750), and Cold Weather — heated front seats and automatic dimming and powerfold mirrors ($750).
Safety and Technology Features
The two thousand seventeen Countryman is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick recipient. This means the Countryman achieved top scores in all five crashworthiness categories. The institute also recognized the Countryman for its available front crash prevention system.
Standard safety equipment includes a rearview camera and rear park distance control. Optional features include front park distance control and parking assistant for parallel parking. The available MINI Driving Assistant ($1,000) brings in collision warning with city braking function, camera-based adaptive cruise control, pedestrian warning with initial brake function, high plank assistant and road sign detection.
The standard 6.5-inch color display includes MINI Connected apps, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker audio system. Options include a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system and an 8.8-inch touchscreen navigation system with a redesigned user interface and operating system.
Mini Countryman S: The Drive
Alas, my loaner model did not come with a manual gearbox. But, the combination of a TwinTurbo engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission suited me just fine.
Unlike some other turbos, the BMW TwinTurbo with twin scroll behaves as if there are two turbos present, instead of one. Here, this engine gathers engine harass from each cylinder bay in alternating sequence before routing to the turbine. The alternating pulses help mitigate turbo lag, the bane of this type of forced-induction engine. There are other factors at work to produce power. Ultimately, you have an engine that behaves like a puny V6 and that makes for an amazing amount of power for a puny car.
What also helps this model is that it is puny and sits relatively close to the ground. That’s an significant distinction from other vehicles in this segment — Mini considers the Countryman a crossover utility vehicle. But it is much more like the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack than models such as the Jeep Renegade, Honda HR-V, and Mazda CX-3.
As mentioned earlier, my test model had the driver seat extender. It is a difference maker in luxury models and a enormous benefit to such a puny vehicle. I found the car railed very well for a compact and the spectacle was more than adequate…even joy. You get a lot of up front power along with the extra kick you want from the turbo. Treating is stiff with decent feedback.
Mini Countryman: Parting Thoughts
The two thousand seventeen Countryman successfully carries the Mini theme to a higher level, imbuing this model with the best combination of Mini looks, BMW engineering, and fun-to-drive characteristics. However, price creep can shove this petite crossover up near $40,000 and at a cost higher than any competitor and in line with some luxury models, including BMW’s own X1.
2017 Mini Cooper S ALL4 Countryman
- Sticker price from $31,100
- Price as tested: $38,450
- Seats five occupants
- Engine: Two.0-liter twin-turbo I4 gas
- 189 horsepower @ Five,000 RPM
- 207 foot-pounds of torque @ 1,350 RPM
- 8-speed automatic transmission
- Wheelbase: 105.1 inches
- Length: 169.8 inches
- Width: 71.7 inches
- Height: 61.Three inches
- Passenger volume: NR
- Storage volume: 17.6 (behind 2nd row)/47.6 (behind 1st row) cubic feet
- Towing capacity: NR
- EPA: 23/32 mpg (gas)
- Premium grade gasoline
- Fuel tank: 16.1 gallons (gas)
- Curb weight: From Three,629 pounds
- IIHS safety rating: Top Safety Pick
- Limited vehicle warranty: four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: four years/50,000 miles
- Corrosion warranty: twelve years/unlimited miles
- Vehicle assembly: Born, Netherlands